Back Then, I Adored You

“Yes, Mr. Lu,” Xiaowang answered with certainty.

Lu Bancheng’s brows twitched slightly. “Maybe it was too stuffy in the club, so she went outside to catch some air?”

Xu Wennuan thought Lu Bancheng’s guess was reasonable. “I’ll go take a look.” She stood up and precariously ran out of the banquet hall in her heels.

After thoroughly checking the front courtyard and not finding Qin Zhi’ai, she returned to the hall. Shaking in her sleeveless gown from the cold outside, she asked in a shaky voice, “Xiao’ai still hasn’t returned?”

Lu Bancheng shook his head.

Sensing something was amiss, Xiaowang got up from his chair and said, “I’ll go check the lounge again.”

“I’ll go take a look in the backyard then.” Xu Wennuan called for the waiter to retrieve her coat. After draping it over her shoulders, she made her way out of the banquet hall.

…

Xiaowang was worried that Qin Zhi’ai might have fallen asleep in the lounge and hadn’t heard him knock on the door, so this time he called for an attendant to retrieve the master key to unlock the door.

The room was completely silent and, when he turned on the lights, no one was inside.

Xiaowang thanked the attendant and took the elevator back to the first floor. He quickly walked up to Lu Bancheng, who immediately asked, “Is she there?”

Xiaowang shook his head and replied, “Has Miss Xu returned yet?”

“Not yet…” Before Lu Bancheng could complete his sentence, Gu Yusheng, who had finished his business with the stakeholders, strode over to them. Noticing the strange expressions on their faces, he slowed down his steps and asked inquisitively, “What’s wrong?”

“Master Gu, Secretary Qin is missing,” Xiaowang reported.

“What do you mean ‘missing’?” Gu Yusheng’s defined brows twitched. He wasn’t grasping yet that anything might be wrong.

Lu Bancheng summarized what had been going on. “Xiao’ai left for the restroom 15 minutes ago and hasn’t returned yet. Her purse and phone are still here, so she couldn’t have gone far. Chauffeur Wang has checked the lounge upstairs twice, but she wasn’t there. Nuannuan searched the restroom and the front areas outside, but she didn’t find her, and now she’s in the backyard looking…”

How could she just vanish like this?

Gu Yusheng furrowed his brows and asked, “Did you check the club’s security cameras?”

“Not yet…” Xiaowang perked up and said, “I’ll go check it out.”

Before Xiaowang returned, Xu Wennuan rushed into the banquet hall, holding a stiletto in her hand. Ignoring the stares from the remaining guests at her outburst, she yelled, “Xiao’ai must be in trouble!”

Gu Yusheng had remained standing after having learned about Qin Zhi’ai’s disappearance. Hearing Xu Wennuan’s voice, he frowned and ran toward her, while guests still stared at the commotion.

Lu Bancheng also sprang from his seat and followed closely behind him.

“What happened?” Gu Yusheng asked. Lu Bancheng, moments later catching up, asked, “What’s the situation?”

Out of breath, Xu Wennuan said haltingly, “This is Xiao’ai’s shoe. I found it in the backyard just now.”